In continuing coverage of Revoltech’s Fraeulein series of bishoujo action figures, the maker’s official blog reported and online figure shop Digitamin confirms that the first item in the series lineup, Ayanami Rei of Evangelion, will be up for preorder on November 1st with release scheduled for January 1st, 2008. In anticipation of the release Digitamin has created a product entry complete with a full image gallery exhibiting Rei in many of the poses made possible by the figure; this initial offering in the lineup goes on sale at 2,000 yen, with subsequent figures (Fate’s Rin and Eva’s Asuka are confirmed) priced at 2,200 yen. While Revoltech figures are regularly reissued to meet demand, those interested getting in on this first batch of Rei are advised to get their preorders in early as she’s likely to be a very hot item. November 1st Update: as of 6:00 PM this evening she is now available for preorder around the internet. (no more)

Entering a bit of new territory for HD this evening we take our first plunge into the world of hug pillow reviews! Tonight we take a look at the recently released Ryomou Shimei and Kanu Unchou offerings from Machi Chara, and I must say they’re quite well done. Being new to the pillow review thing this is a rather experimental post, though hopefully it will be of some use if you’re contemplating a purchase; those turned off by the concept of a body-length pillow with scantily clad 2D girls printed on it will probably not want to read past this point.

Wave put an official site up today for an Amami Haruka PVC figure from Idolmaster: Xenoglossia. The sculpt is from Ogawa Youzou, and she’s scheduled for release in April of ’08 at 1/10 scale (11.5 cm tall) and 4,725 yen retail. With her listed at Wave’s official site preorders will likely appear shortly as well. In other news from Wave, they’re releasing a limited edition Kousaka Tamaki (white swimsuit ver.) PVC from To Heart 2 in commemoration of Mediaworks/Dengeki’s 15th anniversary. 500 copies will be available at the Dengeki Matsuri on November 24th-25th, with another 500 available for order online from the 26th. (no more)

My hands are shaking as I type this, trying to restrain the complex yet primal web of emotions surging forth at the news that anime character design god Uno Makoto has produced a compiled volume of his illustrations set for release from Shueisha on November 30th. Dubbed “UNO!” the book (ISBN 13: 978-4-08-782160-4) will retail at 2,800 yen and feature illustration work from recent anime he has designed, including Dragonaut, Witchblade, and Uchuu no Stellvia. The page count and format are still unknown, but Mangaoh has a preorder page up and Amazon should soon as well. Thanks to cortana for the orgasm-inducing promotional image below! Update: it seems Shueisha has an official page up to promote the book, according to which it will be A4 size and contain an A3-size original poster as well as a complete collection of his Newtype column art. Tanoshimi da wa~

New eroanime brand Suzuki Mirano opened its official site on October 29th, along with the news that the first title in its production pipeline will be “Grope: Yami no Naka no Kotoritachi” and is based on the 2003 May-Be Soft eroge by the same name. Looking at the character designs and the font used in the page’s promotional text I’d bet dollars to donuts that this joins Himajin and Amour in the Anik brand portfolio, but with the current lack of information on the site it’s impossible to say for sure. It seems we can expect a full site opening some time in December. (no more)

The full purchasing details of the KojikaRin figure we’ve been tracking for the past few weeks are now online, and it’s not good news for international fans. You can put her in your shopping basket, but to check out you (or a proxy) needs to be in Japan, pay either the lump sum of 70,000 yen (shipping included) up front via bank transfer, or pay 10,000 yen via bank transfer and then the rest when the item ships. We still don’t have a precise release window, but at least there are some higher resolution pics online (albeit of the unpainted prototype). We’ll keep an eye out for a finished version of the kit, and any additional news about possible international availability. (no more)